The Dwarf Cleric

I have painted this guy a few times over the years, and he's always been fun to paint each time.  The biggest difference in each is probably the base.  Originally I was going to use this as a Blood Bowl coach/turn marker.

There's a lot of movement in this figure, which is not always easy to obtain for a dwarf of any kind (even if they are natural sprinters).

The biggest difference these days is having the Green Stuff World moulds in the armory of tools.  In no time at all, I was able to create a perfect setting for this figure!

He's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222418609058?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Old Timer

Sometimes the oldest of figures can be the most interesting to work with.  When we first started painting minis, there was not a huge selection of figures for us to work with.  We didn't really know anything about the various companies.  

Years and years ago, we ran across some old Ral Partha figures in a bin at a convention, with the thought of using them for Blood Bowl teams, etc.

This figure must be well over 20 years old, possibly 25 at this point.  But, some modern treatment and basing can make it seem as if it still belongs in today's environment.

He's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/322430132401?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

A sweet little Kitty

Next up from Trenchworx is the M18 Hellcat.  This will also get the winter treatment like the Sherman.  Here's the opening of the box... goodies!

This instruction sheet is really handy.  Each company has a different way of casting things like treads, so it is very good to have a picture of that piece so one doesn't mistake a tab for a gate or vent!

Just like the Sherman, the pieces fit together so well out of the box, it stands on its own, without even a touch of blu-tak.

Once again, a fantastic rare earth magnet set up for the turret.  Better yet, I have noticed that the magnets even change size with the turret.  This is bigger and heavier than the Sherman turret, and  it comes with a bigger magnet

These views were shot right after the assembly.  Since then, I have sculpted a bunch of stowage to give it a lived in look.

The casting is so fine on these vehicles, you have minimal amounts of cleaning, filing and so on.  I didn't have to break out the jeweler's block and the razor saw to hack away  massive gates and vents.  Always a plus.

The tracks and drive wheels are especially clean and straight.  This is the single most variable part in all vehicle castings.  They can be a nightmare to deal with, and it's great to be able to blitz right through the process and have a tank with tread assemblies that are not tilted or distorted!

It's the little things that bring me joy. 

Champion of the East

A few of my old Easterling cavalry needed to be converted to create a command set, such as the musician, standard bearer and this champion.  These are the original metal versions of the Kataphracts.

I believe that his sword was from the fantasy Chaos warrior box.  It certainly made him easy to spot, which is very important for knowing the command radius, and if he is the right guy to get into a certain combat.

This Captain was always very helpful in providing a spare might, fate or will point in a key zone!

If I had a Hammer

This big guy is yet another of the game pieces which might be from the Blood Rage game.  He was painted in a similar skin color scheme as the other troll.

There were a lot of broad, open areas to negotiate on this version, and some crazy mould lines.

Soon you will see images of these guys with all their little goblin buddies!  Stay tuned!

Down in the Trenches

As the winter American army draws closer, it's time to get some vehicles ready for them as well!  

Just in time for the relief of Bastonge is the trusty Sherman... I look forward to "winterizing" this. :-)

I had never gotten Trenchworx vehicles before, but I knew that I was in for a real treat.  Sure enough, all kinds of amazing things were waiting inside the box...

Instructions!  Yes, not something you see very often with resin and metal kits.  Very handy though :-)  Even at the rough stage of yanking them out of the bubble wrap, the parts all looked and felt fantastic.

The resin had a wonderful smooth, uniform finish, as opposed to the alternating glossy/rough like you all too often run across.

The pieces already went together, with no slicing, filing or other machinations!

And yes, each turret comes with a rare earth magnet set!  The holes are already set for you... all you have to do is glue them in.  That saves a whole lot of time, pain and potential suffering!  Love it!

The assembled vehicle.  I have since added some stowage, so that it has more places for the snow to accumulate.  The drive wheels and treads were super clean and distortion free, which is yet another amazing attribute.  Normally the treads get a bit whacky and out of shape.

Not here!

I look forward to working on many more Trenchworx vehicles, since the kits are soooooo easy to deal with.  Every detail is sharp and crisp, down to the smallest tool, hatch or vent.  Painting these will be a joy, because they will practically paint themselves.

I have a link to the site here.  They are continuously adding new kits, so I keep coming back to see what wonderful new tank will be coming out:

http://trenchworx.wpengine.com/product-category/world-war-ii/

City of the Dead

It's been a while since we have looked in on things with the Army of the Dead!

These figures were a lot of fun, an exercise in working with the fluorescent paints combined with weathering.

The weathering aspect was done as a series of glazes over the top of the much brighter and saturated fluorescent paints.  This not only toned those down, but created a difference in texture as well as color and brightness.

I remembered the decayed, ethereal look to the Army of the Dead from the movies, and this was a nice way to achieve that look without endless hours of layers and other craziness!